The Academy’s statement reads: “Yesterday evening the Swedish Academy received a personal letter from Bob Dylan, in which he explained that due to pre-existing commitments, he is unable to travel to Stockholm in December and therefore will not attend the Nobel Prize Ceremony. He underscored, once again, that he feels very honored indeed, wishing that he could receive the prize in person.”

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Billboard now reports that Dylan will likely will travel to Stockholm next year and might give his Nobel Lecture then, the Swedish Academy said Friday. Dylan likely will give a concert in the Swedish capital, offering “a perfect opportunity to deliver his lecture,” said The Swedish Academy, who award the Nobel Prize for literature.

On Friday (Nov 18) The Swedish Academy’s permanent secretary Sara Danius told Swedish public radio that the Nobel Foundation’s rules for laureate lectures are “flexible.” Dylan can deliver his as “a written speech, a spontaneous discourse, a film” or another format of his choosing.